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Week 14. You fall into one of three categories. Category One: Safe and Secure, playoff position locked for at least a week, patiently waiting on Week 15. Category Two: As long as I win, or score higher than Team X by Y amount of points, I've pulled off the miracle and anything can happen. Category Three: Yeah, I remember my fantasy league team; eulogy was about four weeks ago.
If your fantasy league has a championship game in Week 17, you should write your congressman. I remember when normal leagues extended that far, and then the tradition of real-life teams resting their starters in the season's final week became the norm and things changed around for rotisserie like a local Boston Market.
So what are your concerns heading into elimination week? Need some lineup advice, want to vent about your season gone wrong? Follow the jump for our BTB league standings, fantasy football resources and other good stuff.
For many of us, Week 14 is still crucial. I entered four leagues this season. One of them (my money league unfortunately) sees me long gone from contention despite being third in the league in scoring. Sometimes, those are the breaks; you catch every opponent on their best week. I've clinched a playoff spot in the BTB Dynasty League and I'm currently in playoff position in my other two ventures, including Fear The Star. A win and I'm in, but a loss sets me up to most likely throw myself into the not-so-exciting consolation bracket.
BTB LEAGUE STANDINGS
| FEAR THE STAR | FEAR THE STAR RELOADED | FEAR THE STAR REVOLUTIONS | FEAR THE STAR ANIMATRIX | DYNASTY | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Name | Record | Team Name | Record | Team Name | Record | Team Name | Record | Team Name | Record |
| magic | 10-3* | Fergie3108 | 11-2* | Ron Mexico's Pharmacy | 11-2* | Olivia's Daddy | 12-1* | Rackham | 10-3* |
| Road Warriors | 9-4 | FantasyFootball101 | 8-5 | Motherwell Manstars | 10-3* | El Diablo Vaquero 2 | 10-3* | mindmuggaz fc | 10-3* |
| KegBearer Clan | 9-4 | Static | 8-5 | Ballz Deep | 9-4* | The Dynamic Duo | 10-3* | BEAST3N | 10-3* |
| KD Wins. Always. | 9-4 | WINNING! | 7-6 | Team Jamery | 9-4* | The Right Kind | 8-5 | Stellar Immortals | 9-4* |
| The Hams | 8-5 | Ironmen | 7-6 | Chuck Norris | 7-6 | ||||
| Cowboy_In_Me | 7-6 | Golden Flashes | 7-6 | ||||||
| DCyanks21 | 7-6 | ||||||||
| * = clinched playoff spot already |
FANTASY FOOTBALL RESOURCES
We'll highlight some important notes, but you really need to read the entire columns that are linked below. Oodles of great advice, especially the Christopher Harris link.
Rotorworld.com - Simply the best injury updates across all positions you'll find on the web.
NY Giants @ Dallas
Dallas gets back lead blocker Tony Fiammetta from a three-game absence due to an inner ear infection this week, and that's good news for DeMarco Murray. In Murray's initial four games as the Cowboys' feature back with Fiammetta in the lineup, the rookie racked up 601 yards and two touchdowns on 75 carries (8.01 YPC). In three games without Fiammetta since, Murray has 198 yards and no scores on 59 carries (3.36 YPC). In Week 13, the Cowboys started Murray but mixed in Felix Jones for an early possession and the two rotated the rest of the way. Jones out-produced Murray, though not by much. The good news for Murray is that he should again have the opportunity to establish the hot hand early, and Fiammetta's return improves his chances. The Giants also rank 23rd against the run, so this is a favorable matchup. ... I've kept a running tally of New York's deficiencies in tight-end coverage, and they resurfaced in last week's loss to Green Bay. Over their last five games, the G-Men have allowed six touchdowns and 41 catches for 496 yards to tight ends. It's good for an average weekly line of over 8-99-1. Jason Witten is up next.
At full strength, the Cowboys' passing attack is explosive enough to keep pace with the NFL's top offenses. Consider last week's 13-point game at Arizona a mirage. Miles Austin practiced all week and will resume his flanker-slot role, rendering Laurent Robinson all but a non-factor in fantasy. Robinson's shoulder injury is the nail in the coffin for his Week 14 start-ability. ... Dallas took all precautions possible with Austin's pulled hamstring because Robinson had been so productive playing in his place. Austin immediately regains WR2 value. ... In his last six matchups with the Giants, Tony Romo has completed 114-of-173 passes (65.9%) for 1,373 yards (7.94 YPA) with a 14:5 TD-to-INT ratio and two more rushing scores. The Giants rank 29th against the pass this year and will not have enforcer SS Kenny Phillips (knee) for Sunday night’s game. ... Giants-Cowboys has a 49-point over/under, the second highest of Week 14. Vegas clearly believes this game has shootout potential beneath the JerryWorld Dome. Austin's return won't necessarily make Dez Bryant a less desirable fantasy play. In fact, it may decrease the defensive attention Bryant faces. He's arguably the best bet for touchdowns on Dallas' roster Sunday night...Score Prediction: Cowboys 27, Giants 24
Gregg Rosenthal Week 14 Start/Sits | Rotoworld
Christopher Harris: "Best and Worst Matchups For Fantasy Football Playoffs" | ESPN
2. Playoff Matchups: QBs. These are the defenses who have the best and worst opponent-independent ratings against quarterbacks over the past five weeks:
Consequently, here are the quarterbacks I think have the most favorable schedules over the next four weeks:
Player Week 14 Week 15 Week 16 Week 17 1. Rex Grossman, WAS NE @NYG MIN @PHI 2. Matthew Stafford, DET MIN @OAK SD @GB 3. Matt Moore, MIA PHI @BUF @NE NYJ 4. Matt Ryan, ATL @CAR JAC @NO TB
5. Ryan Fitzpatrick, BUF @SD MIA DEN @NE
Matthew Berry Love/Hate For Week 14 | ESPN
Jamey Eisenberg Start'Em/Sit'Em | CBS Sports
So there you have it, we open up the floor for your lineup questions. Good luck to all (except to Thebigham, who wants my playoff spot in Fear The Star).